Sean Sheffey, a Maryland native, began his sponsored skateboarding journey with Shut Skates, a New York-centric company. He first encountered Shut at the Eastern Skateboard Association Championships in Ocean City, impressed by their unique style and graffiti-inspired vibe, a departure from the prevalent California aesthetic. He connected with Bruno Musso, received a Shut Shark board, and officially joined the team. Prior to Shut, Sheffey had never been to New York, but the opportunity felt like a local move, because it was easily accessible by train. Riding for Shut was like being part of a family, with Rod and Bruno acting as mentors. The team was full of talented and creative skaters. Sheffey gained early exposure at the Brooklyn Banks, a popular spot for contests and photoshoots.
At the Long Beach tradeshow in 1989 (could be 1990?), Sheffey’s talent caught people’s attention, but he remained loyal to Shut. However, his admiration for Natas Kaupas and the Santa Monica Airlines (SMA) team led him to pursue a sponsorship with them. After persistent requests, Natas agreed, and Sheffey joined SMA as Shut was beginning to dissolve. Looking back, Sheffey regrets leaving Shut, believing it had immense potential. He acknowledged his youthful ambition, and the allure of a California sponsor influenced his decision. His departure was met with understanding but disappointment from Rodney and Bruno.
His move to Santa Monica Airlines aligned with his desire to progress in skateboarding. Around this time, Sheffey appeared in Reason for Living and Hokus Pokus. The Hokus Pokus footage came from a Cow Skates tour, where he met Mike Ternasky, Matt Hensley, and Ron Allen. The tour footage was intended for a video, but due to budget constraints, Ternasky incorporated it into Hokus Pokus, including Sheffey’s mute grab transfer and backside 180 50-50.
After leaving Santa Monica Airlines, Sheffey contacted Ron Allen and joined his new company, Life Skateboards, through H-Street. This opportunity offered him greater financial stability and the chance to participate in contests and travel. He was excited about this new chapter, especially after earning only $200 a month at Santa Monica, Life offered him $1500 a month. Sheffey acknowledging his immaturity and irresponsibility during that period. Despite his success, he feels he lacked the guidance to navigate the industry effectively.
Sheffey was enthusiastic about filming for Virtual Reality, where he focused on technical tricks with distance. There are challenges of filming, and there is important synergy between the skater and filmer and sometimes there’s potential for difficulties when the energy isn’t right.
Sheffey’s felt immense pressure to constantly perform at his best due to the team’s elite status and close-knit dynamic. In an interview on Chromeball Incident, he recounts a challenging experience filming a trick for Plan B, highlighting the physical and mental toll it took. After his time with Plan B, Sheffey joined Girl Skateboards but faced challenges due to a knee injury and substance use, leading to legal troubles and a period away from skateboarding.
Later in his career, Sheffey connected with Jake Brown and Blind, marking a turning point. He eventually returned to Plan B, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and support from both older and younger team members.
~J. Greenwood
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